George Takei, who played Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu on the original Star Trek series, remembered his co-star Walter Koenig in a tribute on Monday. Koenig, who portrayed Ensign Pavel Chekov, died Sunday at the age of 90.
In post shared to social media, Takei
recalled the first time meeting Koenig, their friendship, and how Koenig served as the best man at his wedding. “My heart is heavy. Walter Koenig, our Ensign Pavel Chekov, passed away early today,” began Takei. “Walter and I met on the bridge of the Enterprise in the 1960s, and we stayed friends for nearly six decades.”
He continued, “When Brad and I married in 2008, Walter stood beside us as our best man. Just last month, on Sept. 14, he turned 90, on the same day Brad and I celebrated our 18th wedding anniversary. I will always treasure that he and I shared that date.”
Beyond his role as Chekov, Takei celebrated Koenig as “a writer, a teacher, a thoughtful man, and a loyal friend.” He added, “To the fans who loved him for so many years, thank you. He loved you too.”
Before ending his post, Takei wrote, “Rest well, my dear friend. Keep navigating a steady course.”
After landing his first TV roles in the early Sixties, including the pilot episode of the hit soap General Hospital, Koenig was cast as Chekov ahead of Star Trek’s second season, and remained a series regular through its third and final season. Koenig would regularly reprise the role of Chekov, appearing in 1979’s Star Trek: The Motion Picture, and the next seven films in the franchise, concluding with 1994’s Star Trek Generations.
Koenig’s reps confirmed his death in a statement, and said that he died of old age at a home in North Hollywood, surrounded by his daughter and niece. “Walter’s legacy extends far beyond the screen. Through countless convention appearances and interactions with fans, he shared his kindness, wit, and appreciation with everyone fortunate enough to meet him,” the statement read. “He understood what Star Trek meant to people and embraced the community that grew around it.”
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